Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Since our last note to you in early November, the Committee has been chasing the Council Officers through every means at our disposal, to get answers to a number of issues, some of which remain unanswered, or at the very least, an unsatisfactory response.

Despite the earlier meeting with Council Officers, they still fail to adequately answer the most basic of requests. We set out below a number of points which you may find alarming:

Q. The Council gave extensive time to submit a Planning Application, what is the current status?

A. A PLANNING APPLICATION REF 07/01309/FUL WAS SUBMITTED ON 17/12/2007 FOR A CHANGE TO B1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE, WITH 21 DAYS TO OBJECT.

Q. What is T&S Multiservices doing on the Bentons Farm site?

A. CONTINUING TO RUN A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING THIS AS BEING THEIR HEAD OFFICE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 5 MONTHS.THE COUNCIL SAY “THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS” – WHY?

Q. T&S Multiservices continue to park “plant & equipment” on site (including decontamination units, which are being used for removing contaminants, including asbestos) in areas not covered by the original Stop and Enforcement Notices.

A. WE HAVE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO EXPLAIN WHY AND TO EXTEND THE NOTICES TO COVER THE WHOLE OF THE SITE.

Q. Why were T&S Multiservices allowed to fell the trees and rip out the shrubs?

A. THE COUNCIL HAVE NOW CHANGED THEIR VIEW AND ADMIT THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED, ESPECIALLY AS THERE WERE CONDITIONS ALREADY IN PLACE APPLICABLE TO THIS SITE, WHICH HAVE BEEN BREACHED.WE HAVE ASKED THE COUNCIL WHEN THIS MATTER WILL BE ENFORCED, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TREES.

Please raise the questions posed above with the following officers of the Council: Remember –

THE COUNTIL’S SLOGAN IS “PUTTING RESIDENTS FIRST”. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THIS IN ACTION? IF YOU WISH TO FORMALLY OBJECT TO THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE WRITE TO THE FOLLOWING QUOTING REF. NO. 07/01309/FUL

OCRAG will continue to fight to stop these business operations at Bentons Farm, but we still need your active support. We have engaged a specialist solicitor to advise us with regard to future actions.

Town and Country Planning 1990Planning Application (Council ref: 07/01309/FUL)Proposal: Change of use of outbuildings from workshop to store and from workshop and office to office B1at Bentons Farm Mollands Lane South Ockendon

The Council is currently considering the above planning application. I am writing to ask if you have any comments on the scheme. You can look at the application at these offices between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday. A duty planning officer will be available during the hours of9am to 12.3Opm, to answer question you may have regarding this application. You can also telephone or write to me and I will try to answer your questions about this application.

Any comments should be received in writing within 21 days of the date of this letter. Even if marked confidential, your letter can be read by the public. If I do not hear from you I will assume you have no comments to make.

If you are not the owner of the property you occupy, please inform the owner and any other person who may have an interest in this application.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

The business of T&S Multiservices continues to operate from Bentons Farm without planning permission. Decontamination units still remain on site and vehicles are coming and going night and day, seven days a week.

An extension to a building to the south side of the property has been started and was reported to planners. Officers visited the site and requested that the extension should be removed but it is still there.

It is very important that we all contact our MP Andrew Mackinlay, our Council Leader Mr Hipsey, and Angie Ridgwell Thurrock Council's Chief Executive to express our concerns about the situation. They need to get the message that we are ALL worried and upset about what is happening.

The meeting held at Brandon Groves Club on the 18th October was very well attended and a fighting fund established which is being used to retain a team for legal advice on planning law.

The committee met with planning officers and Councillors Lawrence, Curtis and Maney at the Civic Offices when a number of questions were put to the officers with NO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME. Councillors Arnold and Johnson were unable to attend.

NOTE: Mr R.’ asbestos business is now fully operational from Bentons Farm.

Ask your Council why this asbestos company is now operating without planning consent?

Decontamination units and other business related vehicles are going to and from Bentons Farm continually.

Ask your Council why they are allowing this to happen without planning consent?

Enforcements and stops have been put in place to prevent Mr R. carrying out certain tasks involving his asbestos business but he ignores these.

Ask your Council what action they are taking?

Your Council has given Mr R. guidance and invited him to submit a planning application to operate his asbestos business from Bentons Farm.

Ask your Council what he is applying for and what guidance they are giving us – their constituents?

OCRAG can fight to stop Mr R. operating his asbestos business at Bentons Farm but we need your active support. Please raise the questions posed above with the following members of the Council.